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Gerald Maynard walks back to his house after surveying damage from rushing water along Pond Creek Road in Cheatham County after overnight flooding Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

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Ahmed Mustafa’s business, AMS Auto Sales and Repair in the 1800 block of Nolensville Pike, was devastated by the rain. He estimated the damage could range from $150,000 to $200,000.

“As soon as the water level went down, we were able to go open the gate and go in," Mustafa said. "Everything was a mess. Cars that had been at the front of the lot had been moved to the end. One was flipped over and on its side.

"It will kill my business, actually. I don’t know if insurance will cover that. If not, the business will likely shut down,” he said.

Frederick Dukes Jr. lost nearly everything he owned when his apartment at the Views at Hillwood in West Nashville flooded. Dukes said he thought a sewage drain at the property became clogged in the heavy rain and caused water to back up into his home.

In a video posted to Facebook, the 34-year-old Christian recording artist from Pennsylvania waded through waist-deep water in his apartment searching for items he could save.

“My couch is floating,” he said in the footage. He choked up as he tried to find his mother's framed obituary.

“I lost everything. I had to go to Walmart just to have underwear and socks. I don’t have shoes. Because of the sewage, you don’t know what’s in there,” Dukes said.

Flooding also caused the Music City Star to cancel train service Thursday morning because of flooding at Cairo Bend Road in Wilson County that made rail tracks impassable. The Star was able to resume service Thursday afternoon.

Dickson County had five water rescues and multiple road closures with 3 to 6 inches of rain reported. The Dickson County YMCA opened late Wednesday as a shelter for several people affected by the storm.

Wilson, Dickson and Hickman county school districts and the Lebanon Special School District were all closed Thursday.

The two tornadoes confirmed were in Rutherford County and in Wilson County, according to the NWS.

The Wilson County tornado was along Trousdale Ferry Pike with winds estimated at 70 miles per hour, said NWS meteorologist Sam Herron. A barn was destroyed and parts of it blew a half-mile away. Tree damage was also reported, Herron said.

The tornado in Rutherford County was in the Milton area. A barn was destroyed, trees were knocked down and roof damage to some homes was reported. Winds were estimated at 80 mph, Herron said.

Cold temps, more rain coming

The NWS forecasts sharply colder temperatures Friday and Saturday that will be more typical of winter but feel like a shock after several days of 60- and 70-degree highs.

Friday’s high is expected to be in the upper 30s with a low around 20. Saturday’s high is forecast to be in the lower or middle 40s. Rain is not forecast either day.

But rain is back in the forecast Sunday through Tuesday with approximately 2 to 2.5 inches anticipated.

"The good thing is that the rain (forecast) is spread out over time," Reagan said. "But with rivers already high, we could have river flooding issues."

Impact on rivers

The Cumberland River in downtown Nashville crested to about 35 feet on Thursday and is at action stage, Reagan said.

Flood stage in Nashville is 40 feet, Reagan said.

The NWS said the Cumberland will likely rise to around 38 feet with the rain expected through Tuesday, but does not anticipate it reaching flood stage, Reagan said.

The Cumberland crested at 51.86 feet during Nashville's 2010 flood.

Several other points of the Cumberland River from Wilson to the Clarksville area are also at action stage, Herron said.

The Cumberland in Clarksville is forecast to crest right at or just above flood level with additional rainfall expected overnight Thursday into Friday before the cold front, Herron said.

Several other smaller streams and creeks that tend to rise and drop rapidly with heavy rainfall flooded Wednesday. Those included Browns Creek by Nolensville Road and Richland Creek near Belle Meade, Herron said.

The Harpeth River in Kingston Springs also had some flooding.

Mariah Timms and Chris Gadd contributed to his report.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.